Gas holder



April 30, 1929. p M, KUEHN y 1,711,392

GAS HOLDER Filed Aug. 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l P. M. KUEHN April 30, 1929.

GAS HOLDER Filed Aug. 28, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30, 1929. P. M. KUEHN GAS HOLDER ,Filed Aug. 28, 1925 A. :weeks-she@b 3 April 3o, 1929.

P. M. KQEHN GAS HOLDER Filed Aug. 28, 1925` 4 sheets-sheet 4 JM' y @4% Patented Apr. 30,1929.

`UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL M. KUEEIN, BALTUIORE, MARYLAD, ASSIGNOR T0 THE BABTLE'fT-HAY- `'ARD COMPANY, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARYLAND.

' GAS HOLDER.

Application led August 28, 1925. Serial o. 53,193.

This invention pertains to gas holders or reservoirs, and more particularly to that type now known in the art as4 waterless holders. Such holders are set forth and claimed in U. S. Letters Patent to Konrad Jagschitz, Nos. 1,275,696 and 1,481,099, and the present invention hasv to deal more particularly with an improved sealing `means .of the general type set forth and claimed in the last mentioned patent.

Broadly stated, the waterless gas holder vmay be said to comprise a casing or shell, "a piston-like member slidable along the inner surface thereof, such member forming in conjunction with a liquid seal the closure for the holder. In other words, the usual bell and water basin are not present.

The present invention, as above indicated,.

relates more directly to the means employed for effecting a closecontact between the various parts interposed between thev edge or periphery of the closure or piston proper andthe adjacent. faces of the wall elements and to provide means whereby downward iow of the sealing medium is obstructed and restrained. A A

Where the sealing Huid is relatively vthick or viscous, no trouble inheres, butl where the sealing Huid is relatively thin, as for instance, tar produced in the manufacture of p water gas, it becomes advisable, in fact necessary,.that a close union. between the movable piston or closure and wall elements be ei'ected to prevent a too free passageV of the tar between the closure and the wall of the shell, over which it of course lspreads and between the various elements of the sealing structure as such. The arrangement as will hereinafter appear is such that the liquid sealing medium must take a tortuou-s passage in passing downwardly between the component elements of the rubbing elements.

The sealing medium must of coursel be mobile whether it is relatively thick, or

' viscous, or relatively thin.

Furthermore, means are providedfor insuring closemcontact between the edges of the verticals of the tank structure and the shoes which coact therewith.

A structure falling within the scope of the present invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, of so much of a holder as is necessary to an understanding ate with the frame or body of the holder' Proper;

Fig. 6 a sectional plan view of tlie adjacent ends of such rubbing bars and body elements; Fig. 7 a perspective view, p artl broken away, of one of the elements. or rub ing bars 'employed in effecting action;

Fig. 8 va similar view of the elements which cocperate with the member shown in Fig. 7, Fig. 9 a diagrammatic plan view ot a section of the holder.

In the drawings, a portion of the body or a proper sealing shell of the holder is shown, see more par-l ticularly Figs. land 9, comprising vertically vdisposed plates 1 and 2 riveted at their edges to a relativelynheavy column or bar like member 13. The inner fiat vertically disposed face of the column stands at right angles to the edges of the column, while thel outer face is chamfered so that the plates 1 and 2 may extend therefrom at the desired angle in order to produce, by a repetition of said columns and plates,

. a .symmetrical holder, see Fig. 9.

The closure proper, as in the patents above mentioned, is' a fabricatedl structure which extends across and substantially closes the tank or holder andis movable up and down within the holder according to the gas pressure which obtains within the tank beneaththe closure. Such a closure is designated by 4, and as shown, has a depending wallv 5, a shelf 6, a second depending wall 7 and an outwardly extending circumferential su port or bracket element 8, see Fig.l 2. Xs

will be Seen upon reference to said figure the outer edge of said element stands away from the innerface of the wall of the holder.

As in Patent Number 1,481,099, this structure, together with other elements later described, provides a well or trough adapted to contain the sealing liquid, such for instance as tar.

4Supported by the closure and urged 'outf trated in Fig. 9.

Located directly in front of and bearin against each of the columns 3 is a rubbing bar or shoe 9 each end whereof, see Fig. 7, is cut away or notched out at 10, a second and narroweru recess of notch 11, extending inwardly from the base of the larger not-ch or recess. The shoe at each end has secured thereto a pair ofblocks, those at one end being designated by 12 and 13, and at the opposite end by 12a and 13a.

The blocks are so spaced that they stand close to but not quite in contact with the edges of column 3 so that the shoe ma be moved vertically of the column wit out binding. l

Extending between each pair of the column contacting plates are other plates or shoes designated to bear against the inner faces of the plates, as l and 2, of the holder. Such plates' or shoes are designated generally by 14, and as will be seen upon reference to Fig. 8 the upper and lowerI edges thereof are preferably inwardly curved. At

each end of such plate there is provided a pair of spaced members 15 and 16 formed as an integral .portion of the shoe or plate. Secured to said members and to the body of the` plate is a filler block 17, the block being wedge-shaped in cross section and provided with two outwardly extending elements 18 'and 19 of the same dimensions as the members 15 and 16, to-which they are riveted. The opposing faces of themembers 18 and 19are cut away as at 2O and 21, thus providing in conjunction with the extensions 15 and 16 oppositely disposed grooves orV ways. T he over-all distance between the outer faces of the projections or extensions 18 and 19 is such that said faces make a. relatively close contact vwith the side wals of the opening, or notch 10 into which the extensions 18 and 19 lit when the parts are assembled. Seated within the space -:formed between the inner faces of the ex-y tensions 18 and 19 is a sliding block 22, the block being provided with laterally extending wings or ribs 23, which take into the channels or grooves 20 and 21 and hold the block against lateral displacement with reference to the members 18 and 19 While at the same time permitting the block to be moved endwise. A spring 24 is seated at one end in a recess formed in the sliding block, the opposite end bearing or rubbing against the adjacent face of the member 17. When the par-ts are assembled the spring tends to force the block 22 outwardly into the recess 11 formed in the rubbing bar of l shoe 9. As Will best be seen upon reference to Figs. 6 and 7, the block is of such thickness that it is )substantially equal to that of .the shoe or plate 9 and the blocks12 and 13 which are secured thereto. In other words, the forward end, designated by 25, of the block 22 projects outwardly and into contact with `the vertically disposed edges of the column3. The spr-ingtends at all times to hold the face 25 directly in contact with the edge of the column and thus insures a relatively tight joint betweenv the parts under all working conditions.

Preferably, the end 25 of the block, or at least at that portion which contacts the ver.

tically disposed edge of the column, will be rounded, (see Fig. 8) in order that as the shoe or bars are moved up or down, the block will not be cramped or jammed but will be free to be moved inwardly and outwardly owing to the slight inequalities which may exist in the edge of the column, or owing to the slight variations in the measurement of the column at different points in its length.

It is to bel understood that this same strueture appears at the opposite end of the shoe or bar 14- and that it coacts in a like manner with the adjacent end of the next bar or shoe 9 and the column 3 at that point.

In order to maintain a liquid in the trough and to allow the shoes to be urged outwardly into contact with the columns and- As will be seen upon reference to Figs. 2

'and 4 the canvas is carried down and around bars preferably of` wood and the edge 26a is stitched to the body. v, These bars act as spacers and serve to hold the canvas out of contact with the wall of the holder and to thus prevent wearing of the canvas against the wall as the closure or piston is moved llt) up and down. `Suitable Vwooden elements,

32, v(see Fig. 2), form a rest for the lowerportion of the canvas and hold such portion out of contact with metal which wouldhave a tendency to chufe't.

lil-l) z I- medium, such for instance as tar.

As will be seen upon reference to Figure '3, the flexible element l26 is formed with plaits or folds 26h where the ends of the rigid pressure transmitting elements approach each other..

By reason of the construction above outlined, there is produced an expansible or dilatable trough or channel, the lower portion whereof is flexible,-and which extends entirely around the structure between the inner face'of the wall and the outer portion of the piston or closure proper. As above indicated and as shown in Fig. 2,` this trough is designed to be filled with a liquid sealing To prevent the sealing medium\ from running around to one side, should the closure assume a posi/tion other than horizontal, thechannel lis divided into a series of pockets. This is accomplished by securing the lower ends of posed edges thereof to upward extensions 9a' of shoes 9, and to a vertically disposed element 35 secured to the closure, or more spe-vcifically to frame elements 36 and 37 secured to the closure.

It is ofcourse essential that the v-arious rubbing shoes or pressure elements or members be held in close cont-act at all times with the plates 1 and 2 and the columns 3. Any suitable means may be employed to effect this object but the arrangement shown is preferred. It may be said, to comprise a series of weighted levers, the lower, shorter ends whereof are interconnected with the rubbing elements and tend at all times to force them outwardly into face-wise contact with the columns and plates. The parts, which may be denominated means for pressing the pressure members or elements against the shell, are duplicated around the structure, hence, a description of one will suffice.

Secured to element 6 of the closure is a pair of angle bars 38 and 39 each upstanding element thereof having two longitudinally disposed slots formedv therein. Adjustably secured to said elements is a pair of arms 4() and 41 the outer ends whereof, (see Fig. 2), extend downwardly. A shaft or bar 42 is mounted in said endsand forms the bearing for a sleeve or hub 43 having formed integral therewith, or secured thcreto,va, pair of diver-ging arms 44 and- 45. The upwardly extending arm 44 has secured to it a weight 46 while the lower arm 45 is provided with an opening through which extends a pin 47. Pin 47 finds its bearings in bracket pieces 48 and 49 secured respectively, to the rubbing bar or shoe 9 and the intermediate shoe or rubbing bar 14. Spacer blocks 50 and 51 are placed upon pin 47 between the brackets and arm 45. A rod 52 is secured in arm 45, the ends of the rod extending through arcuate slots as`53, (Figs. 2 and 4) formedrin the brackets. This arrangement forms limit stops for. the xweighted lever.

As will be noted, the weighted lever is connected to and coacts with the rubbing shoes adjacent the ends thereof, hence, any tendency to spring is obviated and the shoes pressed against the edges of the' columns 4and by reason ofthe construction ofthe ends of the shoes as above set forth, down-j ward liow of the sealing medium is materially obstructed. The end construction of the shoes may be said to produce a labyrinth packing and the ends may be said to have a dental enga-gement. The flexibilityof the connections between the parts enables the shoes to properly seat themselves and, moreover, by reason of the construction above described, no strain is placed upon the canvas, no sharp bends. being present therein as it passes from one shoe toanother.

.In other words the projecting members and 19and the'recessed or notched end vof the elements 9, together wit-h'the interposed block 22 produce a dental engagement or connection between the rubbing elements or shoes which, while insuring engagement, produces a flexible or yielding .connection and insures functioning of the parts with the wall of the holder under all conditions.

Stated in another way, the interconnected series of shoes 9 and 14 may be said to form a flexible sealing element or dilatable annulus extending entirely 4 about the movable closure.

Hence the interconnected members 9 and 14 may be said to produce a dilatable annuL lus of pressure members joined invseries by flexible joints th-at permit expanding and contracting distortion of such annulus and are substantially leakage-proof, combined with the pressure exerting means, such as the supporting vbrackets 48, 49; sleeve 43; arms 44, 45; and weights 46 placed about the closure, as best indicated in Figure 9, and acting sever-ally ,toward the inner surface of the holder to maintain between said surface and the outermost peripheral sur face of the closure or piston structure such working Contact to keep in substantially gas-tight relation with said surfaces a mobile medium supplied to and adapted to spread between them as the piston rises and falls. What is claimed is:

1. In algas holder' of the waterless type,

the combination of a shell or easing; a movable closure located within the same, said y closure having a plurality of rubbing shoes bearing against the inner face of the casing, said shoes at their ends having a dental engage'ment; and means for retaining a liquid sealing medium above said shoes.

2. In a gas holder of the waterless type, the combination of a shell or casing; a movable closure located within the same, said closure carrying a plurality of rubbing shoes bearing'against the inner face of thev casing, said shoes having interitting recesses and projections at their ends; and means for retaining a liquid sealing medium above\the shoes. l

3. ln a gas holder of the waterless type,

' the combination of a shell or casing; a movable closure located within the same; a plurality of rubbing shoes carried by the closure and bearing against the inner face of the casing; a labyrinth packingv formed between the adjacent ends of the shoes; and means for retaining a. liquid sealing medium above said shoes.

4. In a gas holder of the waterless type, the combination of a shell or casing; a movable closure locatedwithin the same; a plurality of rubbing shoes carried by the closure, said shoes bearing against the inner surface of the casing, said shoes at their adjacent ends being in interengagement; means located at such point of connection for preventing down flow of a sealing medium between the shoes and the casing; and means for retaining a liquid sealing medium above the shoes.

5. In a gas holder of the waterless type,

the combination of a shell composed ofpa series of vertically disposed columns and a series of connecting plates; a movable closure located within the same; a plurality of rubbing shoes carried by the closure; means Jfor urging said shoes outwardly intocontact with the shell; and means 'carried b v the shoes acting upon the edges of the columns to effect a tight joint therewith.

6. ln a gas holder of the waterless type, the combination of a shell or .easing composed .of a series of vertically disposed columns and a series of interconnecting plates, the edges of the columns being exposed within the casing; a movable closure; a plurality of rubbing shoes movable with the closure; means for urging the same outwardly into contact with the wall of the casing; and spring-pressed means carried by the shoes adjacent the columns, said means acting upon the edges of the columns yand making a tight lit therewith.

7. In-a gas holder of the water-less type, the combination of a shell composed of a series of vertically disposed columns and interconnecting plates, the edges of the columns being exposed within the confines of the casing; a movable closure located within the casing; a series of shoes supported from the closure and extending around the same, the ends of the shoes being in interengagement; a block carried bv the shoes'adjacent their ends, said block standing in line with the exposed edges. of thel series of vertically .disposed columns and vinterconnecting plates, the edges of the columns being exposed within the confines ot the casing; a movable closure located within the casing; a series of shoes located about the margin of the closure; means for urging said shoes outwardly into facewise Contact with the columns and plates; and yielding means carried by the vshoes adjacent the columns and contacting the edges thereofto effect a tight joint therewith.

9. ln a gas holderbfthe waterless type, the combination of a shell composed ot a series of vertically disposed 'columns and interconnecting plates, the edges of the columns being exposed within the connes of the casing; a movable closure located within the casing; a series (of shoes located about the margin ot the closure; means for urgingsaid shoes outwardly into facewise contact with the columns and plates; and sliding blocks mounted in the shoes adjacent the edges ot the columns, said shoes bearing 'against such edges and making a tight joint therewith.

10. In a gas holder of the waterless type, the combination of a shell or casing composed of a series of vertically disposed columns and interconnecting plates; a movable closure located within the casing; a series of shoes extending around the marginal portion of the closure, the ends .of the shoes being in interen-gagement; means for urging the shoes outwardly into facewise contact with the columns and plates; a sliding block mounted at the juncture of the shoes adjacent each edge of each column; means forurging said block endwise against the adjacentedge of the column; and means for retaining a liquid scalingl medium above the shoes to prevent thel escape ot gas.

11. In a gas holder of the wa-terless type, the combination of a shell or casing composed oii a seriesof vertically disposed columns and af series of interconnecting plates; a movable closure'mounted within the casing; a series ot shoes bearing against the plates and columns, the ends of the shoes having an intel-dental connection; a sliding block mounted upon the shoes .at the joint `thereof adjacentthe edges of the columns:

means for urging said block endwise against the adjacent edgeof the column, means for urging the shoes outwardly into facewise contact with the columns and plates; and a flexible member extending from the shoes toa lixed portion of the closure,'said flexible membergforming with .the closure and the `wall of the casing a trough for the reception of a liquid sealing medium to prevent thes escape of gas. j

12. In a` gas holder of the waterless type,

` the combination of a shell or casing embodyand interconnecting plates, the edges of the columns being exposed within the casing; a movable closure; a shoe bearing against the innermost face of each column; intermediate shoes bridging the space vbetween the columns and bearing against the inner' face of the plates; /interdental connections between the adjacent ends of the shoes; a sliding block located at the joint between the shoes adjacent each column edge; means for urging said block endwise into Contact with the adjacent edge of the column.; means for forcing said shoes outwardly into contact with the shell of the casing; and means, embodying a flexible element, forming a trough for a liquid sealing medium between the edge of the closure and the inner face of the casing to prevent the escape of gas: f'

14. In a gas holder of the waterless type, the combination of a shell or casing comprising a series of vertically disposed columns and interconnecting plates, the edges of the columns being exposed within the casing; a movable closure mounted therein; a shoe bearing against each of said columns, the shoes being provided with projections which extend inwardly adjacent the edges of the columns; a seriesv of intermediate shoes adapted tobear against they inner face of the plates; a `filler member secured to the inner faces of such intermediate shoes adjacent each end thereof, said filler member being provided with endwise projecting elements adapted to enter a recess formed in the adjacent end of the shoe which'bears upon the column; a sliding block mounted between the projections aforesaid; means for urging said bloclroutwa'rdly and into contact with the adjacent edge of the column; means for urging said shoes outwardly into facewise contact with the columns and plates; and means for retaining a liquid sealing medium around the periphery of thel closure and at afpoint above the shoes to prevent the escape o gas.

15. In a gas holder of the waterless type,`

the combination of a shell or casing embody- ,ing in its structure vertically disposed eolumns the edges whereof are exposed within the casing; a movable closure located w1th1n the easing; a plurality of shoes carried by the closure; means for forcing the same outwardly into facewise contact with the inner face of the casing; and .yielding means, carried by the shoes, contacting the edges of adjacent its periphery; a substantially continuous series of shoes surrounding said closure and adapted to enter into sealing `contact with -said casing around the periphery of said closure; yielding means serving to urge said shoes into Contact with said casing; -a flexible member extending from the shoes to said attaching flange; and releasj able means for clamping said flexible member to said flange.

17. In a gas holder of the waterless type, the combination of a shell or easing; a movable closure located within the same; a plurality of rubbing shoes bearing against the inner face of the casing, said shoes at their adjacent ends being flexibly interconnected and thereby forming in effect a continuous rubbing element; means acting upon the shoes urging them into contact with the wall of the holder;'and means for maintaining a sealing fluid between said shoes and the inner wall of the holder.

18. In a gas holder of the waterless type, the combination of a shell `or casing; a inevable closure located within the same; a substantially continuous flexible rubbing element extending around the edge of the closure comprisinga plurality of flexibly interconnected members and contacting the inner face of the wall of the shell; means acting upon said element to force the same outwardly into close contact with the said face; and means for maintaining a sealing fluid between said element and the inner wall of the holder. l

19. In a gas-holder of the piston-closure type, in combination: a shell or holder and, vertically movable therein, a piston-closure structure peripherally including, in flexible gas-tight connection with its inner portion, an. annulus of pressure members joined in series by flexible joints thatpermit expanding and contracting distortion of such annulus and are substantially leakage-proof;

Imeans for constantly pressing said pressure sure structure such working contact as vto 'most'peripheral surface of the piston-clokeep in substantially gas-tight relation With said surfaces a mobile medium supplied to and adapted to spread between them as the piston-closure structure rises and lowers; and means for supplying such mobile medium to said Working surfaces.

20. Ina gas-holder of the Wat-erless type,

the combination of a shell or casing; a movable vclosure located within the same; a plurality of rigid members extending around the periphery of said closure; means flexibly interconnecting the ends of said members whereby a dilatable annulus is formed; means for severally applying pressure to said rigid elements to force the same outwardly toward the inner surface of the shell;

and means for effecting a gas seal intermediate the shell and the annulus.

21. In Ya gas holder of the Waterless type,

the combination of a shell or casing, a closure therefor comprising in "combination a body element; a dilatable annulus surrounding and supported by the same, said annulus comprising a series of substantially unyielding elements flexibly interconnected throughout the series at their ends to thereby permit of outward dilation; and means serverally acting upon said elements to vdilate the annulus.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

` PAUL M. KUEHN. 

